Skylight



ug. 25, 1931.i L. ABT 1,820,764

lSKYLIG'HT Filed Aug. 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Lave nto r:

Y n, ,dwf/L54 L. ABT

I Aug. 25, 1931.

SKYLI GHT Filed Aug. 5. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -,oN-1515511)fsra'rlasj `Patented Aug. 19391".` f

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS www;

PATENT.. onirica- A Lomav ABT, or cnIcAao,'rLL1NoIs`,'AssIGNon 'ro mummia-Imogen Appleman .nieaaugm s, im.V seran No. 353,320.

' f "My invention relates to automatic skylight ycontrol and althoughv suitable for use wlth vgvarious types of ventilators, is especially l adapted for use in the operation of vent1latf One of the objects of my n lo ' to -the Vte'emperature of the room.

Avfurther object is to provide a thermoi statically controlled ventilator operating anyv predetermined room temperature and in i l provided for the motors 13and 13d respec means which maybe adjusted to operate at which theventilators may also be controlled at all times by an operator at a distance.

kFurther objects will appear from the dej ,of my invention 1s shown:

. scription and claims.

' In the drawin 1n which an embodiment Figure 1 isa vertical n `through, a skylight construction, the operating means and control panel being shown in elevation;

Fi 4. 2 is an enlarged transverse section showing a part of the transmission;

' Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the position indicating means;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the distance control switch; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring and associated electrical devices.

Referring to the drawings Vin detail the construction shown therein comprises truss members 1() between which the Ventilating skylight members 11 and 11a are pivoted on the fulcrum members 12 which are in turn secured to the truss members 10.

The skylight sections 11 and 11a, which vmay be of any desired length, are operated by means of motors 13 and 13a. In the present instance the motors are mounted on the cross beam 14 and a transmission is provided 1927, patented f =1 gages a suitable driven friction Wheel 19 on of'its corresponding swinging skylightsection. The-transmission system comprises a worm 15 directly connected tothe motor shaft and driving .-theworm 'gear-16 which fisv between each motor shaft and the upper edge i mounted on the shaft 17 a' drivin' friction 1 wheel is also secured to the shaft 1 and enthe counter-shaft 20, the counter-shaft being provldedl with sprockets 211 'engaging the racks 22 which are pivoted at 23near the ups j per end of their corresponding `skylight sec'- tions. The racks are held 1n` engagement with the sprockets 21 by means ofthe yolfres.'-

The 'motors V'are reversible, each being profvided with arunn'ing winding and a. starting winding, the. direction of rotation being controlled by the polarity of the E. M. F. ldelivered to the starting winding. l

Pole changing switches 25 and `25a are tively and are automatically controlled to ing winding when theskylights, in their movement, havereached the fully open .or

. closedposition. transverse section .be .automatically reversed, cables26 are se- ;cured to the upperedge .of the movable sky- In order that the switches'L and 25a light sections and are held taut b means of the weights 27. Members 28 an 29 are secured to the cables and so positioned that when the s kylights'are closed the members 28 will engage the pole changing switch arms 30 holding them in raised position, and when the skylights are fully opened the members 29 engage the switch arms 30 moving them to the position shown in dotted lines and re'- versing the polarity of the starting winding connections.

The friction drive included in the "transmission prevents injury to the motors or skylights in case the members 28 and 29 are not accurately adjusted to operate the pole changing switches at the extreme open and closed positions of the skylights.

The worm drive provides a self locking construction to hold the skylight rigidly in any position.

reverse the direction of current to the start# when the room temperature reaches a certain predetermined degree the motors will operate to open the skylight sections, and when the room temperature drops below a certain predetermined degree the motors will operate in the reverse direction to close the skylights.

- The method of electrically connecting the various devices to accomplish the desired results is diagrammatically illustrated in 5 and will be described later.

It will be evident from the description to follow that any number of motors may be controlled from va. single thermostat although, for purposes of illustration, only two have been shown.

Switches 33 and 33a are provided for disconnecting either or both of the motors 13 and 13a respectively from the control circuit. This is especially desirable when it is necessary to repair the motor or any of the movable parts connected therewith.

In order that the movement of each of the skylights may be controlled by an operator independently of the thermostat control, suitable `motor controlling switch mechanisms and indicator mechanisms are provided. The switch mechanism comprises manually operable pole changing switches 34 and 34a respectively. One of these switches is illustrated in Fig. 4, the controlling `lever 35 of which is normally held in neutral position by a centering spring 36. Y

If the operator wants to open the skylight he moves the switch lever 35 to the mark R on the switch dial which will cause the motor to operate in a direction to open the skylight, if the operator wishes' to close the skylight he moves the switch lever to the mark L on the dial causing the motor to operate in a reverse direction to close the skylight. The neutral centering spring prevents the operator leaving the motor running after releasing the switch lever.

A master double throw switch 37 is provided for disconnecting the thermostat control when it is desired to operate the motors and associated skylights by means of the manually operated switches. When the switch lever is in the raised position shown in Fig. 1 the circuit is so arranged as to provide for thermostat control and the switches 34 and 34a are ineffective. When the switch lever is thrown down to the opposite position the circuit for the thermostatic control is broken and connections are made so that the motors may be controlled by means of the switches 34 and 34a.

Itis necessary that the operator should know the exact position of either of the sky-l light sections so that they may be moved to any desired degree between open and closed at any time. To accomplish this the indica.- tor mechanism shown in Figs. A1 and 3 is provided and comprises a cylinder 38 having a piston 39, the piston rod 40 being connected to the movable skylight section by means of the connecting rod 41. The cylinder is connected with a bent tube indicator 42 by means of a flexible fluid conduit 43, suitable Huid being used for transmitting movement from the piston to the indicator. The indicator is calibrated to correspond with positions of Y the skylight sections.

In the wiring diagram illustrated in Fig.

5 all of the wiring and associated devices are shown diagrammatically, the main line wires from which the power is obtained being shown by the extremely heavy lines 44 and 45. The ordinary 11() volt lighting circuit is suitable for this purpose.

Each motor is provided with a running winding 46 and a starting winding 47. The wiring for the thermostatic control of the ruiming winding is shown in heavy lines.

The wiring for the starting winding is shown in ordinary light lines and the wiring'for the operator controlled pole changing switches 34 and 34a is shown in very light lines.

In the diagram the motors are shown wired in multiple to be operated simultaneously, therefore a description of the means for operating one of the motors applies to the other.

The contacts in the thermostat are not adapted to carry suicient current to operate the motors, and a relay is used in conjunction with the thermostat to close the switches 49 and 50 and connect the motor circuits to the source of EM. F.

The master switch 37 is provided with the switch blades A, B, C, D. E, and F for closing the thermostatic control circuits when in a raised position, and when the switch is thrown down the blade A cooperates with the contact A to close the circuit for controlling the motors by means of the switches 34 and 34a, the rest ofthe circuits being broken.

The thermostat 31 is provided with the contacts 51 and 52. When the room temperature reaches the highest predetermined degree to which the thermostat has been previously adjusted the contacts 51 close and the circuit is completed to operate the relay 48 which in turn closes the switches 49 and 50 and completes the circuits for operating the motors in a direction to open the skylight sections.

It will be understood that when the skylight sections are in the closed position, the switch lool 'changing switch levers 30 are automatically forced downwardly by the means previously described and the contacts 53 and 53a are broken stopping the motors and leaving the skylights in the open position and at the same time contacts 54 and 54a are closed thus changing the polarity of the motor circuits so that when the room temperature is reduced to a predetermined degree and the thermostat operates to close contacts 52 the motors are rotated in a direction to close the skylights, the process being repeated i indefinitely to maintain an approximately uniform rooin temperature.

The levers 30 of the pole changing switches 25 and 25a also operate the contacts 55, 55a and 56, 56a which are alternately opened and closed with the pole changing contacts and serve to switch the thermostat circuit from high to low temperature control, that is, when the pole changing switch levers are raised and contacts 53, 53a and thermostat contacts 55 and 55a are vclosed the motors are controlled by the high temperature contacts 51 of the thermostat to open the skylights, and when the pole changing switch contacts 54, 54a and the thermostat contacts 56, 56o are closed the direction of rotation of the 'motors will be controlled by the low temperature thermostat contacts 52 to close the skylights.

Starting from the positive line wire the thermostat circuit, when the pole changing switches 25 and 25a are iii the raised position, is through the wire T, including the master switch blade A, thermostat contact 51, branch T1, through contacts and 55a, through wire T3 including the master switch blade F, thence through t-lie relay 48 and the return wire T4 completing the circuit to the negative line wire 44.

The operation of the relay 48 closes the switches 49 and 50 and the running winding circuit is completed from the positive line wire 45 through T, relay switch 50, wii'es R to the running winding 46 and returning through R2, relay switch 49 and return wire T4 to the negative line wire 44. At the same time the starting winding 47 of motor 13 is energized from the wires R- and R2 through the pole changing switch 25 to the starting winding through the wire S, including the master switch blade B, and returning through the wire S1 including the master switch blade C.

When the pole changing switches are thrown downwardly to reverse the starting winding connections, the contacts 55 and 55a of the thermostat branch circuit T1, are broken and 'contacts 56 and 56a are closed connecting the low temperature branch T2 to the wires T3. v

An exactly similar circuit is used from the pole changing switch 25a to energize the` starting winding of the motor 13a, the wires S and S1 from the pole changing switch 25a, including the switch blades E und D respectively. i

When the master switch 37 is thrown down-- wardly the above mentioned circuitsl are broken and the switch blade A cooperates with the contact A to connect the manually operable switches 34 and 34a to the line wire 45 through the wire 57.

lf it is desired to operate motor 13 by means of the switch 34, in the direction to open the skylights, the controlling lever 35 is turned to the mark R thus electrically connectiiig the wire 57 through the switch blade member 58 to the starting winding wire S1, and the wire R of the ruiming winding, the circuit for the starting winding being coniplcted from wire S through switch blade member 59 to the negative line wire 44, the running winding circuit being completed from the wire R2 through the blade member 59 to the negative line wire 44.

'hen the control lever 35 is moved to the mark L the starting connections through the switch are reversed and the motors operate to close the skylights.

positive The connection and the operation for the switch 34a for controlling the motor 13a are exactly the same as in switch 34, theconnections heilig reversible through switch blade members (i0 and G1.

The manually controlled operation of the motors independently of the room temperature is esl'iecially desirable in case of storms,

when thc skylight sections on one side may be closed and remain closed through breaking the motor circuit by opening the switch l33 or 33a, while the other side may continue to be under the control of the thermostat.

lVhat I claiiii is:

1. An automatic skylight control comprising movable skylight sections, motors for operating said sections, transmissions between said motors and said skylight sections,

means for automatically and electrically controlling the operation of said motors to open and close said sections to maintain an approximately uniform room temperature, and means operable by said sections to control the direction of movement of said sections.

Q. A ventilator control comprising motors for opening and closing said ventilators, a relay controlling the motor circuits.- a thermostat controlling the relay and having high and low temperature circuit control cont-acts, adjustable means connected to said ventilators and automatically controlled by the porition of the ventilators for switching the i' llow temperature thermostat contacts.-

relay controlling `circuit'` froml the high? 'y '3.- A` ventilator control lcomprising motors f ,'for opening and closing said@ ventilators, a

relay controlling the-motor circuits, a therf mostat controlling the relay and having high and low temperature circuit control contacts, and adjustable. means automatically controllo-d by the positionof the ventilators for changing theV direction o''mogvcmen-t of said ventilators to correspond with-the relatedV high and low. temperature thermostatcontacts. 7 f

' 4. A skylight control system comprising a plurality of motors for simultaneouslyopen- 111g and. closingy a plurality of movable skylight sections, lsaid motors being` Wired -in multiple ,fromvacommon source of E. M. a relay forcontrolling said motor circuits, a vthermostat having electrical contacts A to l make andbreak lSaid contacts at vpredeter-l -1 5. A ventilator control compirsin t1lator, and` a motor, ax transmisslon said motorl and'saidiventilator, means con-.

j tiplc contact' switches arranged. for starting mincd'temperaturesto control the operation of said relay, and 'manually .operable mul-vv said motors in either direction.

fr avenlbetween trolling the dire'ctionfof rotation of said motor to open andl close-said ventilator,l said means comprisingfa thermostat Eto 'make and break electrical circuits'at predetermined temperatures, a relay for closing thecircuits to said motor when either of said thermostati` ically controlledcircuits' are closed, 'and' a ventilators, andan electrical controlling cirl y cuit'for theA motors including pole changing switches: actuated vby said ventilators to change the polarity of the current and re versing said motors, a relay controlling the motor circuits, a thermostat for actuating the relay at predetermined temperatures, opera-- tor controlled pole changing switches for op-` erating individual motors in either direction independently of the thermostat control, and a master` switch for breaking the thermostatically controlled circuits and closingl the operator controlled circuits.

8. A ventilator control comprising movable skylight sections, motors for operatingsaid sectlons, transmissionsbetween said.` motors andsaid sections, a. relay controlling the motorcircults, a thermostat' controlling the relay-and havingvhigh and low temperature,

circuit control contacts, means 'automatically controlled by the position of the sections for switching the relay-controlling circuit from the high tothe low temperature thermostat contacts, derived motor controlling `circuits having manually actuated controlling means therein,-and al master switch controlling all of the circuits and operable for disconnecting the thermostatlcontrol and connecting the derived circuits when it is desired to man- `uallycontrol the operation of the motors. i

f In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribedmynamekl y i.oUIsAB'r.y

pole; changing"switchiiiutomatically contrclled from said ventilator fforf lchanging l l' the polarity of the current yto vvsaidrnotor when direction.

v said ventilator trenches the openV orclosed position,fa' switchcontrolled by the position f 'other corresponding tothe open Vor closed yofzaaid ventilatorffor switchingsaid relayl 'A circuit fromonevthemnostat circuit-to the position ofthe ventilator, and a plurality of switches operable to start said motor in either f 6. A ventilatorcontrol comprising a motor for openingand yclosing said ventilator,

a transmission between said motor and said vent1lator,1sa1d motor having a running v Winding Vand a starting winding, the electrical circuits of said running Winding and said starting winding being controlled from a source of E. M. F. through a relay, thermostatic means for operating the relay at predetermined.' temperatures, pole changing means automatically actuated by said ventiing motor actuated operating means for said 

